Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Forty

The train arrived in Atlanta in the early evening. The family had supper on the train, for Rhett had told Pork in his telegram that he was unsure of their arrival time therefore to not have the cook prepare them supper.

The Butlers and their luggage were at the mansion by seven o'clock. When Rhett carried Gerry into the nursery, he saw Wade's sad face. He said, "Go ahead and go to your room to get ready for bed. You are old enough to not have to sleep in the nursery."

"Me too, Daddy."

"No, Bonnie, it will be several years before you and Ella will be moved out of the nursery."

"Daddy!"

Bonnie even tried to pout but Rhett had just laughed at her and said, "You can push that lip right back in. It isn't going to do any good." Which made Bonnie pout even more.

Later that night as Rhett was getting undressed and Scarlett was nursing Gerry, Rhett told her about him letting Wade sleep in his room, she said, "I guess I should have let Wade sleep in his room sooner."

"No, we are letting him sleep alone soon enough. The war scarred him, just as it scarred you and he got comfort from sleeping with his sisters."

"Just as I get comfort from sleeping with you."

"And Gerry. I have a new book I think you will like."

"What is the title?"

"Around the Moon. It is a sequel to the book I am reading you right now."

"Mr. Verne certainly has an imagination. Why would anyone want to go to the moon?"

"Because it is there."

"You are so silly, Rhett. Is everyone settled?"

"Yes except for Gerry."

"You can put him in his bassinet. He is almost asleep."

Rhett took the baby from Scarlett and placed him in his bassinet. He stood over the baby and patted his back until he was sure the baby was asleep. As she put on her dressing gown, she smiled at the picture in front of her. Who would have ever thought Rhett Butler could be such a good father. She sat down at her vanity table. Rhett sat down in his favorite chair and just watched her brush her hair. As she gave him some shy smiles, he thought, "Yes, indeed, I am so glad I now know what that smile means."

The next morning Scarlett sent a note to an employment agency telling them which employees she needed to hire including another nursemaid. She sent a note to Melly, Fanny, and some of her Scallawag and Republican friends. She was surprised when Fanny sent a note back asking permission to call that afternoon.

Scarlett wrote her back and told her to be at the mansion at three. When Melly asked for permission to call that afternoon also, Scarlett turned her down and suggested the next morning. Scarlett knew that Fanny's call was not a social call. She suspected that Fanny was why Elsing's General Store was running so well now.

Scarlett was spending the morning getting everyone settled at the house. When she saw Wade, she said, "It was good that Dad suggested you sleep in your own room from now on."

"Mama, can I redecorate my room?"

"Of course. I have some magazines that you can look through."

"I want to hang my father's sword on the wall."

"That sounds nice to me," Scarlett smiled when she heard her other son crying. She said, "It sounds like your brother is calling my name."

Scarlett turned and paused at the door. She turned back to Wade and said, "I love you more than you will ever know. Bye."

Wade's mother was quickly gone but he said any way, "Love you too, Mama."

Scarlett had spent the time after dinner, with the help of the housekeeper, assigning the new employees to their work positions and letting them know what would be required of them. She nursed Gerry at two. Scarlett smiled every time she looked at Gerry's face. He was almost a miniature Rhett. Yet whenever she said that to Rhett, he would point out all Gerry's features that were hers.

Scarlett was waiting for Fanny in the parlor at three. When Fanny arrived, Scarlett was startled by how the woman looked. She looked like she had gained about ten pounds which she needed to gain. She had on a new dress and a new hat. But the thing that startled Scarlett most of all was the big smile on Fanny's face.

Fanny said, "Thank you for receiving me so quickly."

"Certainly."

"You really did a kind and generous thing selling Hugh the store. You know the profit you were making, well, Hugh is doing even better."

"Wonderful."

"Hugh is doing so well that he is thinking of opening up another store."

"Wonderful. How many hours a week are you spending at the store?"

"I go down every day in the morning to do the books, but I am always home for dinner."

"Why did you want to see me?" At Fanny's stunned expression, Scarlett said, "I know this isn't a social call. You have hardly spoken to me since Tommy's death."

Fanny blushed and said, "No, I haven't."

Scarlett smiled and said, "It wasn't my fault. I didn't even know the men were going to do that stupid raid. If I had known, I would have tried my best to talk them out of doing it."

Fanny stared at Scarlett and finally let the past go. She said, "No, it wasn't."

"Well?"

"I want you to loan us two hundred dollars so we can open another store."

"Where is the store going to be located?"

"At Piedmont and Glimmer."

"How much square footage?"

"5000 in the main store with two more rooms for storage."

"Why do you think it will be successful?"

"It is in the part of town the Yankees have settled in."

Scarlett smiled. She said, "How much do you want to borrow again?"

"Two hundred dollars."

"Yes, at three percent interest," With Fanny's nod Scarlett continued, "Let me contact my attorney, Joseph Powe. I will let you know when the contract is ready to sign," With a smile, Scarlett said, "Be sure and bring Hugh to sign the contract."

Scarlett stood up and extended her hand. After Fanny stood up, she shook Scarlett's hand. Scarlett said, "You are smart to hide behind Hugh."

"What do you mean?"

"Hugh is a decent manager, but he is not ambitious. He would never decide to open another store. He would be too afraid of it failing."

"Thank you, Scarlett, for the loan. Since Hugh bought the store, we finally have enough to eat. We can afford new clothes for the entire family while still paying on the loan. The first loan is paid off so this will not be any hardship."

"Promote Phil to be the manager of the other store. Give him a chance. He is like Hugh. A steady hard worker. You will be able to bring them both into success. If you have any questions, just stop by."

"I have never felt so alive as in this last year. I loved Tommy very much and haven't wanted to remarry especially with the men who were available. With Hugh and me making the store a success, I will never have to remarry."

"How wonderful for you."

"Hugh is going to marry Anna Beth."

"It is about time."

"He can finally afford to take a wife."

"Excellent."

"We will see. She will be moving into the house which is already cramped."

"Anna Beth is just going to be so grateful that she is finally a married woman. Don't you know, all your troubles go away once you are married."

Fanny smiled and segued the conversation to Ashley Wilkes. Fanny had been tormented by goody two shoes Melanie Hamilton, therefore, she wanted to make sure that Melanie's sister-in-law knew the truth about Melanie's husband. Therefore, she said, "Did you hear about what happened to poor Melanie?"

"No. What?"

"It seems her husband is not as proper as everyone thought. He frequents brothels."

"Not Ashley! Poor Melanie! Does she know?"

"No, who is going to tell her? Would you tell her?"

"Of course not."

Fanny looked disappointed in the news, but it was good enough that Scarlett knew the truth about Mr. Wilkes. Fanny wouldn't say anything more because she didn't want Scarlett to get mad at her and refuse to loan her the money.

Fanny would have been thrilled to know that Scarlett was actually extremely excited about the gossip. She was also excited that she now knew everyone in Atlanta proper society was laughing at Melly behind her back.

As soon as Scarlett had seen Fanny out of the mansion, she went to find Rhett. She found him in his office going over his accounts. He would be spending the next couple of weeks checking his accounts. He had left Mr. Powe in charge of them and while Rhett trusted the lawyer, he would still make sure his accounts had been handled properly.

Scarlett did not knock-on Rhett's office door. She always just walked right on in. Rhett smiled. In their previous life before he had changed his ways. Scarlett would rarely visit his office and when she did, she would always wait to be admitted. As she walked in, she said, "That rumor you started about Ashley did indeed find traction."

"How do you know?"

As Scarlett sat on the edge of his desk, she said, "Fanny Welburn told it to me. I asked if Melly knew, and Fanny said who would tell her. Then Fanny asked, 'Would you tell her?' When I said I wouldn't Fanny actually looked disappointed before she covered it up."

"Mrs. Welburn called on you? I mean it is surprising that anyone from polite society would call on you."

"It wasn't social. She wanted to borrow money."

"What for?"

"To open a new store at Piedmont and Glimmer. I believe that Fanny has more of a head for business than Hugh. She is working at the store part-time. I told you that Hugh had paid off his loan early, remember?"

"Is Mrs. Welburn the older sibling?"

"I don't know. Why?"

"If she is then she has been telling Mr. Elsing what to do all his life."

"Like Wade and Ella."

"Yeah, but certainly not like Wade and Genie."

"No, our daughter doesn't like anyone telling her what to do."

"Not even you or me."

"True. She occasionally obeys Mammy."

The couple both laughed.

Rhett ran his hand up Scarlett's calf, and she smiled. When his hand got to her knee, he moved it to the other leg. Not only did his wife not close her legs, but she widened them just a bit. He said, "Is knowing that everyone is talking ugly about Mr. Wilkes as arousing to you as it is to me?"

"You can find out."

Rhett extended his hand until he was touching his wife's womanhood and said, "It seems that it is."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Give you relief, of course."

With a sweep of his arm Rhett knocked all the papers that were on his desk to the floor. Scarlett laid on his desk and pulled her dress up. He loosened his pants and pushed his underwear down. His member sprang forth. Scarlett said, "You are so beautiful."

"I'm glad you think so."

"Hurry."

"Of course."

Rhett slowly eased himself into his wife. This was one of his favorite parts when they became one. He could not maintain just being inside Scarlett for awfully long, but he treasured the moments that he could. Soon he was moving in and out and his wife was enjoying her first orgasm. He guessed she was as aroused as he was. He tried to slow the pace down, but he couldn't. He just enjoyed all the sensation she was invoking in him.

All too soon Rhett and Scarlett were finished. After they caught their breaths, Scarlett said, "If you got me with child again, I want a diamond parure."

Rhett laughed and said, "And another trip to Europe."

"Of course."

Rhett laughed again. He would buy her anything she wanted if she would be willing to give him another child. He said, "Let me help you up."

"Thank you."

After Rhett and Scarlett had straightened their clothes, she kissed him and started to walk out of the room. He said, "You aren't going to help me clean this mess up?"

Scarlett gave him a cheeky smile and said, "No."

Rhett was smiling as Scarlett walked out the door. He wondered why he had even asked. His wife would always be a diva. Soon the mess was cleaned up, but he could no longer concentrate on the records of his accounts. He opened the windows wider and left the room. He would take his daughters and Gerry for a walk.